East Midlands Railway (EMR) announced on 17 July 2026 that it will reduce Intercity train services indefinitely due to operational problems with its new Class 810 Aurora trains manufactured by Hitachi Rail. The Class 810 fleet, also known as Aurora trains, was introduced into passenger service on the Midland mainline in December 2025 after a three-year delay.
Service cancellations on Midland mainline routes
From 20 July 2026, hundreds of services on EMR’s Intercity timetable will be cancelled on the Midland mainline connecting London St Pancras with Leicester, Nottingham, Lincoln, Derby, and Sheffield. This includes approximately 20 fast trains daily between London, Sheffield, and Nottingham. Some services
will continue but with fewer carriages. Passengers holding bookings for affected trains may use tickets on up to two earlier or later services or request a full refund.
EMR leadership response and causes
Will Rogers, Managing Director of EMR, said the Class 810 fleet’s performance has “fallen below the levels we and our customers expect,” making timetable adjustments necessary. EMR stated the new fleet met all required safety standards after regulatory approval and testing. The company attributed the current situation to a three-year delay in fleet introduction combined with ongoing reliability and maintenance issues affecting both the new Class 810 and the existing Class 222
trains. EMR has been running a reduced timetable for two weeks citing warm weather impacts alongside these issues. The rollout of the Class 810 fleet will continue in a controlled manner during 2026 and 2027 while working closely with Hitachi Rail to resolve the reliability problems.
Industry and political commentary on service impact
Railfuture representative Bruce Williamson criticized the reductions as a backward step, stating passengers want more reliable and less crowded services. Harborough MP Neil O’Brien described the situation as a “total mess” that has persisted for months, reflecting passenger dissatisfaction.
Hitachi Rail’s position and safety compliance
A Hitachi Rail spokesperson confirmed that more than one-third of the Class 810 fleet has
been delivered and met all required safety standards after regulatory approval and testing. Hitachi Rail is investing in additional testing at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre to improve fleet introduction and support the transition from the Class 222 trains. The company is working closely with EMR and other industry partners during the entry-into-service phase of the Class 810 fleet.
Broader UK rail network context
The Midland mainline service reductions come amid wider reliability challenges in UK railways. Additionally, train drivers employed by LNER face potential strike action impacting services on the East Coast Main Line, which could add to disruption for rail passengers nationwide.
